Impressive Del Potro Beats Verdasco For Ninth ATP World Tour Title

© JLSJuan Martin del Potro was ranked World No. 485 on 31 January.

Juan Martin del Potro, playing at his first clay-court tournament for 23 months, won his third ATP World Tour title on red dirt and his ninth trophy overall on Sunday at the Estoril Open.

The eighth-seeded Argentine defeated second seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-2, 6-2 in the 76-minute final, played under cloudy skies at the Estadio Nacional.

"It was my best match of the week," admitted del Potro. "Finals are difficult to play, you never know if you will play your best tennis or not. Today, I won and I played really nice tennis. Everything was perfect.

"To beat Fernando you have to play good tennis. I served really well and was very confident on my forehand and backhand too. I took all my opportunities, especially on my break points. Hopefully I will be at the same level in my next match."

Del Potro has now won 23 of his past 26 matches, rising from No. 484 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings on 11 February to his current position of World No. 46. "I am playing better day-by-day, tournament-by-tournament," he added. "That is why I am working. I want to be ready for the second part of the year."

The Estoril Open titlist earned a first prize of €72,600 and 250 South African Airways 2011 ATP Ranking points, while Verdasco picked up a cheque for €38,200 and 150 points.

Del Potro is the fifth Argentine in the past nine years to win the title at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament. He joins David Nalbandian (2002, 2006), Juan Ignacio Chela (2004) and Gaston Gaudio (2005).

At the start of the pair's third meeting, there were three straight breaks of serve before Del Potro establish control of the first set with a 3-1 lead. Two wayward backhands gave del Potro a second service break, with Verdasco dropping his serve to 15.

Del Potro converted his second of three set point opportunities with an out ace wide in the deuce court to wrap up the opener in 33 minutes. He dropped just six points on serve.

Verdasco continued to struggle on serve in the second set. The World No. 15 lost his serve to 15 in the first game and del Potro went onto confirm the break with pinpoint accurate serves and forehand winners.

Serving at 2-4, 40/15, Verdasco appeared to be in control of his service game, but four straight groundstroke errors gifted former World No. 4 del Potro and 5-2 lead.

Thirteen minutes later, having saved one break point and on his third match point opportunity, del Potro completed a 14-point service game with a forehand winner. It was his 25th win of the year.

Del Potro, who dropped one set against Portuguese qualifier Pedro Sousa in the first round, captured his second ATP World Tour title of the year. In February he won at Delray Beach (d. Tipsarevic). He has now 9-3 lifetime in tour-level finals.

Verdasco, 27, won 12 of 24 points on serve and did not create a break point opportunity. The Madrid native, who beat del Potro in the San Jose semi-finals in February, dropped to a 12-9 record on the season.

"He played better and that is why he beat me by the scoreline today," said Verdasco. "He played great. I didn't have many chances to put him in trouble. It was hard, he was hitting the ball hard and deep. It was difficult to be offensive. I didn't play my best game.

"I hope to finish in the Top 10 at the end of this year. After Roland Garros I will have almost nothing to defend, so I hope to pick up points at Wimbledon and other tournaments. I hope to be back in the Top 10 sooner or later."